Port Douglas food festival cancelled

TASTE Port Douglas, one of the town’s premier events, which has attracted some of the country’s acclaimed chefs, has been cancelled.

In what is a massive blow to the Port Douglas events calendar, this year’s event was scheduled for September 15-16.

“We are very disappointed and sad to not be going ahead with Taste PD this year. But, after five years and year-on-year increases in marketing results, we would have expected an increase in funding from Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ); and for the event to be more financially stable, to allow for growth in management,” said event organiser Reina Patrick.

“Unfortunately neither of these goals was achieved and we could no longer meet consumer expectation.”

Over the years, the food spectacle has transformed Port Douglas into a ‘foodies’ paradise with a packed program of dinners, tastings, chef demonstrations, master classes and more, all in the most spectacular locations.

Celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge, from Four Fourteen Restaurant, has been a regular at Taste Port Douglas. Others have included celebrity chefs Massimo Mele, Ian Curley, Monty Koludrovic and Nelly Robinson.

Reina said the festival would not return.

“We are sincerely grateful to the people and organisations that have supported this event: our event partners, accommodation houses, other individuals, but sadly it is difficult to yield the necessary results for these types of events to work in regional areas such as ours,” she said.

“The event commands all of Spencer and my attention and we cannot afford to spend that amount of time away from our primary business and most importantly, we choose to no longer spend that much time away from our family.

“The decision was aired directly following last year’s Taste Port Douglas; we discussed this with TEQ during the 2017 event acquittal process as well as the 2018 grant application process,” she said.

Reina said they have had the most supportive group of guest chefs associated with the event and all of them plus new ones were looking forward to being part of Taste Port Douglas again and all are saddened by its cancellation.

“All participants are overwhelmingly supportive of the decision we have made, they are all in the industry and agree that while it was an annual highlight for them, if it didn’t work financially then there was no point,” she said.

“In terms of locations and programs, none had been confirmed as we were awaiting state funding announcements in June and when funding did not increase; we knew that the event would not be financially viable. We had to detach our emotional connection with the event and look at it from a purely business perspective.”

This decision follows the 12-month postponement of the 2018 Palm Cove Reef Feast. It is unknown why the event, scheduled for October 12-14, was postponed for a year.

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